Your stairway will be a step above the rest!
The staircase is typically the first thing guests notice about your home (except, maybe, the color of your front door), so we’re here to help you put your best design foot forward in 2025. With nesting energy at an all-time high during the dreary, doldrum days of winter, now is the time to make some changes to those oft-overlooked spots in your home. And, the best part of small space refreshes is that equally small touches go even further in making an impact. bronze towel hooks for bathrooms
There are lots of inexpensive, designer-approved ways to transform your stairwell into a space you actually enjoy. Country classics like wonderfully worn wood treads and a good, collected gallery wall easily add humble charm to any entry. Willing to put in a little more elbow grease? Try painting the railing or treads with one of our editor-approved paint colors. (You’ll definitely find your new favorite shade in this list of our 100 best paint colors of all-time.) And, if you’re willing to pull out the sledgehammer for a bigger renovation project, we have ideas for you, too! Regardless of your timeline or your budget, this list of 56 staircase ideas below will show you how to layer your entry with timeless charm. Here are some more ideas for styling your entry:
The easiest way to upgrade your staircase? Add a pop of color to your treads! In this Victorian-era home designed by Erick Espinoza, a happy historic green adds an unexpected dose of cheer to the white stairwell.
Get the Look: Stair Tread Paint Color: Raleigh Green by Benjamin Moore
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If you’re doing a full-on makeover, be sure to keep a little bit of your home's historic charm. In this upstate New York home, designer Christina Salway chose to paint the wood newel post and banister black, while leaving the delightfully worn wood treads exposed. In the connecting entry, a fresh color palette of crisp white and happy sage adds a cheery spin.
Get the Look: Wall Paint Color: All White by Farrow & Ball Trim Paint Color: Quiet Moments by Benjamin Moore
In this Maine cottage’s airy stairwell, a collection of seaworthy ship paintings and seascapes were sourced from across the country by homeowners John Petersen and William Kinnane.
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If you love the idea of a splashy entry full of wallpaper, we say go for it! Give your space a more designed feel by matching the palette inside and out, like DIYers Victoria and Marcus Ford did in their entry.
RELATED: See More of Victoria and Marcus’s Entryway Makeover!
There’s no greater space to show off your favorite vintage finds than in that triangular space in front of your stairs. In this New York farmhouse, designer Hadley Wiggins anchored the entry with a midcentury sideboard piled up with antiques.
RELATED: See More of This Restored 1800s Farmhouse That is Proof That Some Things Get Better With Age
Don’t be afraid to make a bold statement with your staircase, like this one that's painted an rich inky gray. Offset the dark with a lighter paint color on the walls and bring in warmth through aged wood picture frames and a rustic light fixture. RELATED: The Top Dark Gray Paint Colors to Warm Up Your Home
Take a note from homeowners Sarah and Russell Bennett by transforming your overlooked nook under the stairs into a home office. The desk can also easily double as a drinks station when hosting!
RELATED: 45+ Best Home Office Ideas to Inspire You While You Work
Look to the outdoors for color inspiration. If you didn’t know you were near the ocean before entering this circa-1855 Maine cottage, the sea-foam green staircase might be a huge clue. A duo of picnic baskets lined up against the wall adds to the summery theme.
RELATED: 48 Beach House Decor Ideas That Will Make Major Waves in Any Interior
Lay down a stair runner to add pattern and interest to your steps. The well-worn stair runner at this 18th-century farmhouse is a fond reminder of guests who have come and gone. To get the look in your own home, find a runner you love and don’t forget the carpet tape!
RELATED: Tour More of This 18th-Century Farmhouse of Your Dreams
Short on space but determined to make it stylish, the homeowners of this Long Island, New York saltbox-style home added an antique piano and a collection of straw hats—amongst other things—at the bottom of their stairwell.
RELATED: Peek Inside This Three-Centuries-Old Saltbox Home
Before the renovation of this 19th century New York home, the stairs were covered in a colorful carpet and the walls were painted bright salmon. Now, crisp white walls complement the dark stair treads and a simple Moravian star lights up the entry. The homeowners also embraced the quirky antique newel post cap that came with the home and welcome it as a conversation starter for guests.
RELATED: See More of This Elegant 1850s Home
Antique portraits line the entire stairwell of this California farmhouse giving it a collected-over-time look. Search for a quirky mix of personalities to get a similar look that also makes for a great conversation starter.
RELATED: Tour More of This Colorful California Home
Rather than lay a real runner in this narrow stairwell, designer Christina Salway painted one! To get the look, start with a light neutral base, then paint a wide stripe of one color with thin borders of another darker paint color.
Get the Look: Stair Paint Colors: The wide middle stripe is painted Stonybrook by Benjamin Moore. The thinner outer stripes are painted French Press by Benjamin Moore.
RELATED: 21 Brilliant Ideas for Painted Floors
Rather than painting your stair railing all the same color, give it a little wow factor by paint the balustrades a different color than the handrail. Here, that blue and blue color pairing is repeated on the front door.
Don’t know what to do with that empty landing? An oversized pitcher or an antique accent piece can easily fill a design dead space in the corner of an L-shaped staircase. Just be sure to measure your piece so you don't crowd the walking space.
Add an unexpected twist by hanging small pieces of art on staircase risers—as shown here in actor Tony Shalhoub’s charming Martha’s Vineyard home. This works best if the pieces are in a similar style!
RELATED: 50+ Inspiring Gallery Wall Ideas to Try in Your Home
Bright canary-colored paint steals the show in this New York farmhouse’s entryway. Opt for happy hues in complimentary color families to get a similar look.
RELATED: Tour More of This New York Farmhouse That is the Perfect Mix of Vintage and Modern
Obsessed with fun and figural pieces? Take inspiration from this Wisconsin lake house and hang them with pride. Cascading down the main stairwell, these skis, which the homeowners spent years collecting, take wall paneling to the next level.
RELATED: This Wisconsin Summer Cabin Feels Like Happy Hour
When stairs won’t do (or there is simply no room), opt for a sturdy, permanent ladder such as this one. Work with a contractor to make sure your setup follows code and is safe for the whole family.
A combination of whites and browns will make your entire home look and feel clean and airy. This New York guesthouse takes inspiration from Scandinavian design for its refined look. Oversized brass candlesticks dotted up the stairs add to the restrained elegance.
RELATED: This Backyard Barn Is Actually a Guest House—and the Inside Is Unbelievably Beautiful
If your furry friend is more like family, consider decorating an area in honor of your pooch. A wall of dog silhouettes and portraits adds collected, crowd-pleasing charm. Hanging the collection on the stair ends provides a unique stair-step shape and helps turn what could be the wasted space in front of the stairs into an inviting spot to sit.
RELATED: Check out the Country Living Pet Lab, where our editors with pets—we're talking dogs, cats, chickens, you name it—will put all things animal-related to the test.
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
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